Personal digital stereo player

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a music jukebox which is configured for storing a music library therein. The music jukebox includes a housing, audio input structure on the housing for receiving audio signals, audio output structure on the housing for outputting audio signals, and a data storage structure in the housing for storing audio signals. The music jukebox is configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in the data storage structure. The music jukebox includes means for selecting a sound track from the music library stored in the data storage structure to play through the audio output structure, and the housing includes a display thereon which identifies sound tracks in the music library. Preferably, the music jukebox is configured such that the sound tracks stored in the data storage structure are editable before being played through the audio output structure.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/855,510, filed on Aug. 12, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/557,317, filed on Nov. 7, 2006, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/610,178, filed onJun. 30, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/641,069, filed Aug. 17, 2000, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/111,989, filed on Jul. 8, 1998, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/051,999, filedon Jul. 9, 1997, each of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to audio recording devices, andrelates specifically to a novel music jukebox.

Present audio tape recorder/players provide for both audio recordingonto a cassette tape and play back of the audio recording, and aregenerally relatively easy to use. The typical audio tape recorder/playerhas several push-buttons which allow a user to have the device perform anumber of functions in connection with the cassette tape. Normally, apush-button is provided for each of the following functions: pause,stop, rewind, fast forward, play and record.

In addition to being easy to use, some audio tape recorder/playersprovide additional advantages by way of advanced features. For example,some provide that one can determine a recording sound level before orduring a recording, and set or adjust a recording gain level in responsethereto. Specifically, some provide a digital display, such as an LEDdisplay, that indicates the sound level which will be recorded (or whichis being recorded) onto the cassette tape, and provide a rotary knob, orother type of adjustor, which one can adjust in order to set (or adjust)the recording gain level. However, even these more advanced audio taperecorder/players do not provide that one can listen to how the recordingactually sounds until after the sounds are recorded onto the tape. Inother words, the typical audio tape recorder/player does not allow oneto truly “audition” a recording before it is actually recorded onto acassette tape. As a result, several “takes” may be required before anacceptable recording is obtained. A recording may be unacceptablebecause of a number of reasons such as, for example, because therecording gain level was set too low or too high.

Additionally, present audio tape recorder/players do not provide an easyway to vary the order in which a set of sounds, such as a set of songs,will appear on the cassette tape. Because an audio tape recorder/playerrecords essentially what it “hears” or receives, in real time, it is notpossible to easily customize the order in which sound tracks, such assongs, will appear on the recorded tape.

Another disadvantage of audio tape recorder/players is that they produceanalog recordings, and analog recordings have a lower sound quality thando digital recordings. Furthermore, cassette tapes are not as durable ascompact discs. For example, a dirty tape head may effectively destroy acassette tape upon play back. For these reasons, cassette tapes are nolonger the standard in the music industry, and compact discs are now envogue. Therefore, while the demand for audio tape recorder/players hasdecreased, the demand for compact disc players has been increasing.

Like present audio tape recorder/players, present compact disc playersare also relatively easy to use and provide push-button controls, with apush-button being provided for each of the following functions inconnection with the compact disc: pause, stop, track reverse, trackforward and play. The track reverse and track forward functions of thepresent-day compact disc player are much like the rewind and forwardfunctions, respectively, of the present-day audio tape recorder/player.However, the nature of compact discs provides that the track reverse andtrack forward functions of a compact disc player are more useful thanthe respective rewind and fast forward functions of an audio taperecorder/player. Specifically, holding the track reverse or trackforward push-button down provides that the compact disc player skipsback or forward, respectively, within a given sound track. In contrast,tapping the track reverse or track forward push-button on the compactdisc player provides that the compact disc player very quickly skipsback or ahead, respectively, to the previous or next sound track on thecompact disc. Because of the general nature of cassette tapes, thislatter feature cannot effectively be provided on audio taperecorder/players.

As mentioned, compact disc players provide certain advantages over audiotape players. Compact disc players play back digital sound recordingsfrom a compact disc, and digital sound recordings have a higher soundquality than do analog signal recordings. Also, compact disc playersprovide for fast movement to the previous or next sound track. However,while audio tape recorder/players provide that one can record onto acassette tape, most presently generally available compact disc playersdo not provide that one can record onto a compact disc.

Those compact disc recorders which are generally available record onto acompact disc in real time and do not provide any true editing functions.For example, some compact disc recorders now available provide that asource device, such as a compact disc player or a cassette tape player,is first connected to inputs of the compact disc recorder. Then, as thesource device is operated to begin playing music from the source medium,the compact disc recorder is operated to begin recording. Therefore, asthe source device is playing music, the compact disc recorder recordsthe music in real time, as the compact disc recorder receives the musicthrough its inputs.

There are many disadvantages to having to record in real time. Onedisadvantage is that editing is severely limited. If a mistake is made,the mistake is generally non-correctable. For example, if one beginsrecording the wrong song onto the compact disc or begins recording asong at the wrong volume, the mistake cannot readily be corrected. Onewould have to start over, and begin recording onto a new compact disc.Another disadvantage to having to record in real time is that if onewishes to make several identical compact discs, one would need tore-play all of the source music into the compact disc recorder. Ofcourse, this effectively provides more opportunities for mistakes to bemade while recording. Furthermore, if one wishes to make a secondcompact disc much like a compact disc which was made previously, withthe exception of one song being replaced by another, one would need tore-play all of the previous source music into the compact disc recorderin addition to having to play the new song into the recorder. Likewise,if one wishes to make a second compact disc much like a compact discwhich was made previously, with the exception of the songs on the secondcompact disc appearing in a different sequence, one would need tore-play all of the previous source music into the compact disc recorder,albeit in a different order.

Some other compact disc recorders now available include two compact disctrays—one tray for playing music from a compact disc, and one tray forrecording the music onto another compact disc. In other words, music isrecorded from tray-to-tray. This type of compact disc recorder presentsmany of the same disadvantages as discussed above because the recordingis still done in real time.

Most of the compact disc recorders presently available can play musicfrom a standard compact disc, thereby operating like a standard compactdisc player. However, the devices generally cannot play back music whichwas received previously by the device unless the compact disc containingthat music is first inserted into the tray of the device.

Another disadvantage to the compact disc recorders which are presentlygenerally available is that the devices cannot be used to record ontostandard CD-R discs which can be played back using any standard compactdisc player. Standard CD-R recordable compact discs (as opposed to discsmarked “for consumer use”) are presently widely available, areinexpensive, and can be played back using any standard compact discplayer.

The present invention is directed at solving the disadvantages discussedhereinabove.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A general object of the present invention is to provide a music jukeboxwhich provides advantages not generally provided by other presentlyavailable compact disc recorders.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a music jukeboxwhich can be used to store music tracks as easily as using a modern-dayaudio tape recorder/player.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a music jukeboxthat provides that one can listen to a stored sound track before thesound track is recorded onto a compact disc (i.e. truly “audition” arecording).

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a musicjukebox that provides that one can easily customize the order in whichsound tracks will appear on a compact disc.

Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a musicjukebox that can play back music which was received previously by thedevice without a compact disc containing that music being first insertedinto the device.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a musicjukebox that can be used to record onto computer-compatible compactdiscs which are presently widely available, are inexpensive, and can beplayed back using a standard compact disc player.

Briefly, and in accordance with at least one of the foregoing objects,the present invention envisions a music jukebox which is configured forstoring a music library therein. The music jukebox includes a housing,audio input structure on the housing for receiving audio signals, audiooutput structure on the housing for outputting audio signals, and a datastorage structure in the housing for storing audio signals. The musicjukebox is configured such that a music library of sound tracks isstorable in the data storage structure. The music jukebox includes meansfor selecting a sound track from the music library stored in the datastorage structure to play through the audio output structure, and thehousing includes a display thereon which identifies sound tracks in themusic library.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and function of theinvention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identifylike elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a music jukebox in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the front of the music jukebox illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the back of the music jukebox illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2;

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the internal components of themusic jukebox illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 a is the left half of a more detailed block diagram of theinternal components of the music jukebox illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 b is the right half of a more detailed block diagram of theinternal components of the music jukebox illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of analog components of the music jukeboxillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIGS. 7-23 illustrate some of the different possible screen displays ofthe music jukebox illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION

While the present invention may be susceptible to embodiment indifferent forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will bedescribed in detail, an embodiment with the understanding that thepresent description is to be considered an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto that as illustrated and described herein.

Shown in FIG. 1 is an optical storage device in the form of a musicjukebox or compact disc recorder 30 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. The music jukebox 30 is a easy-to-use stand-aloneaudio recording device that can receive signals from an analog audiosource and produce digital recordings onto a compact disc. As will bedescribed, the music jukebox 30 has memory so sound tracks can be storedtherein and selectively played back. In this regard, the compact discrecorder 30 can be effectively employed as a modern-day juke box. Hence,in the following description, the device 30 is interchangeably referredto as a compact disc recorder and music jukebox. Additionally, the factthat the compact disc recorder 30 includes memory provides that savedsound tracks can be reviewed, or “auditioned”, before being burned ontoa compact disc. Preferably, the compact disc recorder 30 has manyenhanced functions allowing for the advanced editing of stored soundtracks, and can be used to play back standard, commercially availablecompact discs. These advantages as well as many others will be apparentafter reading the following description of the compact disc recorder 30.

Internal components of the compact disc recorder 30 are protected by ahousing 32, which may be a fabricated metal case much like those ofstandard stereo decks such as cassette decks and compact disc players.As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 32 has a front panel 34, a back panel36, sides 38, a top 40 and a bottom 42. The housing 32 may incorporate,or have attached thereto, standard computer bay/mounting hardware, suchas rails for drive mounting, one or more slots for circuit boardmounting, and other mounting attachment structure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front panel 34 of the compact discrecorder 30 is an injection-molded front bezel 44 which provides,essentially, a user interface which displays information to a user andprovides means for allowing the user to program and control the compactdisc recorder 30. The front bezel 44 has a digital graphic displaydevice 46 thereon. The digital graphic display unit 46 is, for example,a 240×64 dot graphics LCD with LED back-light, or may be a type ofplasma display and/or a group of lamp devices. Regardless, the digitalgraphic display device 46 provides that the compact disc recorder 30 cancommunicate certain information to the user in connection with theoperation, control and programming of the compact disc recorder 30. Inaddition, the digital graphic display unit 46 may also be a graphic userinterface, such as a touch screen whereby a user can operate, controland program the compact disc recorder 30 by physically touching thedigital graphic display unit 46 with a finger, light pen, or some otherobject.

The front bezel 44 also provides a means to give editing commands toembedded software (to be discussed later herein) for ordering,auditioning and playing back sound tracks stored in the compact discrecorder 30, prior to recording the tracks onto a compact disc.Specifically, the front bezel 44 has a set 48 of six transport controlpush-buttons 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 50 thereon for providing that the usercan control the functioning of the compact disc recorder 30. The set 48of push-buttons are identical to those typically found on present-daycompact disc players, but also includes a push-button to direct thecompact disc recorder 30 to enter a record mode as will be describedmore fully later. In other words, there is a separate push-buttonprovided for each of the following functions of the compact discrecorder 30: stop (button 41), pause (button 43), reverse track (button45), play (button 47), forward track (button 49) and record (button 50).The front bezel 44 also includes a second set 52 of six push-buttons 53,55, 57, 59, 61, 63 each of which relates to certain functions of thecompact disc recorder 30 relating to programming the compact discrecorder 30 and editing sound tracks previously stored therein.Preferably, the second set 52 of push-buttons allows a user to accessand interact with menus displayed on the digital graphic display device46. This will be described in more detail later herein. Preferably, bothsets 48 and 52 of push-buttons on the front bezel are illuminated, suchas by LEDs.

The front bezel 44 also includes optical storage medium receivingstructure so that an optical storage medium may be inserted into anoptical storage drive. As shown, the optical storage medium receivingstructure and optical storage drive may comprise a compact disc tray 54and a compact disc tray eject/retract button 56 where the compact disctray 54 forms a portion of a compact disc recordable drive 58 (see FIGS.4 and 5) that is housed within the housing 32 of the compact discrecorder 30. Pressing the compact disc tray eject/retract button 56 onetime provides that the CD tray 54 on the front bezel 44 opens andextends to allow the insertion of a compact disc into, or the removal ofa compact disc from, the compact disc recordable drive 58 housed withinthe housing 32 of the compact disc recorder 30. Pressing the compactdisc tray eject/retract button 56 again provides that the compact disctray 54 on the front bezel 44 retracts and closes to provide that thecompact disc recordable drive 58 can interact with the compact disc.Alternatively or additionally, the compact disc recorder may beconfigured such that one of the push-buttons can be used to open andclose the compact disc tray 54. The compact disc recordable drive 58 maybe provided such that a plurality of compact discs may be insertedtherein. To this end, the compact disc tray 54 may open to provideaccess to more than one compact disc, or the compact disc recordabledrive 58 may have more than one compact disc tray 54. Instead of acompact disc recordable drive 58, the device may include some other typeof optical storage device such as a DVD recorder.

Further, the front bezel 44 includes analog/digital controls, thusproviding a means to operate a recording, or input, signal level and theplay back, or output, signal level. Specifically, the front bezel 44 mayinclude gain adjustors 60 thereon comprising two single-turn rotarypotentiometers 62 and 64 for controlling the input gain of each of theright and left channels, 66 and 68, respectively, of a line-in jack 70,which, as shown in FIG. 3, is on the back panel 36 of the compact discrecorder 30. Indicia may be provided on the front bezel 44 in thevicinity of the gain adjustors 60 to indicate which adjustor 60corresponds to the right channel, and which adjustor 60 corresponds tothe left channel. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front bezel 44 alsoincludes a volume adjuster 72 which comprises a dual-turn rotarypotentiometer 74 for controlling the output volume to a headphone jack76, also located on the front bezel 44. Preferably, the headphone jack76 on the front bezel 44 consists of a standard one-quarter inch,gold-plated three conductor stereo headphone jack. Additionally, asshown, the front bezel 44 may include a remote control signal receivingwindow 77 for receiving and/or sending signals to and/or from a remotecontrol which may include buttons corresponding to either or both sets48 and 52 push-buttons provided on the front bezel 44 of the compactdisc recorder 30 as well as a display screen. Finally, also included onthe front bezel 44 of the compact disc recorder 30 is a power switch 79which may be illuminated with an LED like the other push-buttons on thefront bezel 44. As shown, the front bezel 44 may also include amicrophone 75 for receiving a user's voice and operating in responsethereto.

As mentioned, and as shown in FIG. 3, the back panel 36 of the compactdisc recorder 30 includes a line-in phono jack 70 having a right channel66 and a left channel 68. The line-in jack 70 provides that the compactdisc recorder 30 can receive stereophonic signals from an externalsource, such as from a tape deck, a compact disc player, a stereo radioreceiver, or practically any other analog audio source. The back panel36 of the compact disc recorder 30 also includes a line-out jack 78having a right channel 80 and a left channel 82. The line-out jack 78provides that the compact disc recorder 30 can transmit stereophonicsignals to a pre-amplifier or amplifier, such as to a stereo radioreceiver, or even to a standard cassette deck. Preferably, each of theline jacks 70 and 78 is a standard RCA jack having about 10,000 Ohms ofimpedance, and is color-coded for stereo connection to an existingstereo system. For example, the right channels 66 and 80 may be coloredred, and the left channels 68 and 82 may be colored white. Indicia mayalso be provided in the vicinity of the jacks 70 and 78 to indicate therespective channels thereof As shown, there may also be providedbalanced input jacks 71 and 73.

The back panel 36 also includes a power supply cord (not shown) that canbe plugged into a common household electrical outlet to provide power tothe compact disc recorder 30 when the power switch 79 on the front bezel44 is pressed. Depending on the configuration of the compact discrecorder 30, the power supply cord can be provided to operate eitherwith a 115 Volt/60 Hz electrical outlet which is commonly found inUnited States households, or with a 230 Volt/50 Hz electrical outletwhich is commonly found in other countries.

As mentioned, the back panel 36 preferably includes standard RCA inputjacks 66 and 68 as well as balanced inputs 71 and 73. In addition to, orinstead of, these input lines, the back panel 36 may also include asingle line stereo input. Also, in addition to, or instead of, theheadphone jack 76 and the line-out jack 78, the back panel 36 may alsoinclude a single line stereo output. The single line stereo input andoutput may each comprise a standard, one-eighth inch TRS stereo jack.The single line stereo input would provide that the compact discrecorder 30 can receive both channels of an external sound sourcethrough a single jack. Likewise, the single line stereo output wouldprovide that the compact disc recorder 30 can transmit both channels ofa stereo signal through a single jack. The back panel 36 may, of course,include still other lines in and out. For example, the back panel 36 mayinclude a standard one-eighth inch mono combination line/microphoneinput jack. In fact, the one or more input lines in and out may beprovided on the front bezel 44 in addition to, or instead of, the backpanel 36. The number of inputs and outputs and locations thereof is notimperative. Furthermore, an amplifier can be provided in the compactdisc recorder 30, and speaker output jacks can be provided on the backpanel 36.

Regardless of the type of lines in and out provided, one having ordinaryskill in the art would recognize that a corresponding gain or volumeadjustor may be provided associated therewith. Alternatively, it can beprovided that the gain of all the available inputs can be controlled bythe gain adjustors 60 specifically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such that asingle knob controls the gain for a plurality of inputs. Likewise, itcan be provided that the volume of all the available outputs can becontrolled by the volume adjustor 72 specifically shown in FIGS. 1 and2, such that a single knob controls the volume for a plurality ofoutputs. Of course, all adjustors can be provided electronically, suchas on the digital graphic display device 46.

As shown in FIG. 3, furthering the versatility of the compact discrecorder 30, the back panel 36 thereof includes a SCSI port 84. The SCSIport 84 provides that the compact disc recorder 30 can communicate witha personal computer (PC) to create or duplicate multi-media CD-ROMs, orbackup and restore data onto a PC. To this end, the SCSI port 84provides active termination and a thumb-wheel (not shown) is preferablyprovided in association therewith to allow the user to identify thedevice number (generally from zero to six) the PC should regard thecompact disc recorder 30. To connect to a PC, a SCSI interface cable isconnected to both the SCSI port 84 on the compact disc recorder 30 andto a SCSI card on the PC. To select the SCSI functionality of thecompact disc recorder 30, a selector switch can be provided on the frontbezel 44 or back panel 36 of the device 30. Alternatively, the compactdisc recorder 30 may be configured such that the display device 46 andone of the input keys 52 can be used to select the SCSI function of thedevice 30. Still further, the compact disc recorder 30 may be configuredfor automatically sensing that a PC is connected to the SCSI port 84,and automatically responding thereto by entering a SCSI mode.

The internal components and connections of the compact disc recorder 30will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. As shown, two inputlines 86 and 88 are connected to a signal conditioning unit 90. Theinput lines 86 and 88 represent analog signals received from one or moreof the inputs mentioned hereinabove, such as from the right and leftchannels 66 and 68, respectively, of the line-in jack 70, from thebalanced inputs 73 and 71, from the single line stereo input and/or froma combination line/microphone input jack. The signal conditioning unit90 modifies the gain and frequency response of the analog signalscarried by the input lines 86 and 88 in order to optimize same for inputto an analog-to-digital converter 92, which is connected to the signalconditioning unit 90. The signal conditioning unit 90 is not onlyconnected to the analog-to-digital converter 92, but also to a controlbus. A central processing unit 94, such as a microprocessor havingsoftware embedded therein, is incorporated on a circuit board along witha sound card (CODEC) structure, a SCSI interface and all principal inputand output connections, and is also connected to the control bus.Preferably, the embedded command structure is based on the standard SCSIoperating commands for CD-R devices. The connection of the centralprocessing unit 94 to the control bus provides that the centralprocessing unit 94 can control all the other devices which are connectedto the control bus, such as the signal conditioning unit 90. The signalconditioning unit 90 modifies the gain and frequency response of theanalog signals carried by the input lines 86 and 88 under control of thecentral processing unit 94 over the control bus.

As shown, in addition to being connected to the signal conditioning unit90, the analog-to-digital converter 92 is also connected to the controlbus. The analog-to-digital converter 92 samples each of the analog inputsignals received from the signal conditioning unit 90, and converts theanalog signals to digital data, or a digital word. The analog-to-digitalconverter 92 performs this function under control of the centralprocessing unit 94 over the control bus.

Also connected to the control bus is a disc storage controller 96, andthe disc storage controller 96 is also connected to a disc subsystem busto which is connected the compact disc recordable drive 58 and possiblya secondary compact disc recordable drive 108, if provided. Thesecondary disc recordable drive 108 may be identical to the compact discrecordable drive 58, or may comprise a means to store and/or readdigital information on or from a magnetic or optical disc. For example,the secondary disc recordable drive may comprise a DVD recorder. Infact, the compact disc recordable drive 58 may comprise a DVD recorder,and a secondary recordable drive need not even be provided. However,should there be included a secondary disc recordable drive 108 which isidentical to the compact disc recordable drive 58, the front bezel 44may include a second compact disc tray, and a second compact disc trayeject/retract button associated therewith, or may provide that thesingle compact disc tray 54 can provide a compact disc to both of thecompact disc recordable drives 58 and 108. The disc storage controller96 essentially amounts to an interface between the data storage orretrieval requests from the central processing unit 94 and the discsubsystem bus. To facilitate the control and programming of the centralprocessing unit 94 itself, an input key unit 98, essentially comprisingthe two sets 48 and 52 of previously-described user interactive switcheson the front bezel 44 of the compact disc recorder 30, is connected tothe control bus. The digital graphic display device 46 located on thefront bezel 44 of the compact disc recorder 30 is also connected to thecontrol bus; therefore, the central processing unit 94 can control anddrive the digital graphic display device 46.

Also connected to the control bus is a digital-to-analog converter 100.Therefore, the central processing unit 94 can control the operationthereof over the control bus. Specifically, the digital-to-analogconverter 100 converts digital input received from a data bus undercontrol of the central processing unit 94. As shown, connected to thedigital-to-analog converter 100 are two output lines 102 and 104 forcommunicating the produced analog signals to any of the outputs alreadymentioned, namely, the right and left channels 80 and 82, respectively,of the line-out jack 78, the single line stereo output, the headphonejack 76, any balanced outputs provided, or any other outputs provided onthe device 30. Should the function selector switch (or other means ofsetting the function of the compact disc recorder 30, if notautomatically detected by the compact disc recorder 30) be set to selectthe SCSI device function of the compact disc recorder 30, a digitalsignal output would bypass the digital-to-analog converter 100 andproceed directly to the SCSI port 84 and then to a connected PC.

As shown, the analog-to-digital convertor 92 is also connected to a databus. Additionally, the SCSI port 84 is connected to the data bus alongwith the central processing unit 94. This provides that the digitalsignal input received through the SCSI port 84 can proceed to thecentral processing unit 94 without having to travel through theanalog-to-digital converter 92. In this case, the function selectorswitch (or other means of setting the function of the compact discrecorder 30, if not automatically detected by the compact disc recorder30), if provided, would be set to select the SCSI function of thecompact disc recorder 30. Also connected to the data bus is one or moredata storage structures 106, the input key unit 98, thedigital-to-analog converter 100 and the digital graphic display device46. The one or more data storage structures 106 may comprise essentiallyany type of data storage structure for storing and retrieving digitalinformation from randomly addressable memory locations using solid stateread only and/or read and write types of memory. Specifically, the oneor more data storage structures 106 may each comprise an IDE hard drivehaving a capacity of 2.1 or more gigabytes. As shown, the centralprocessing unit 94 and one or more data storage structures 106 areinterconnected via an address bus and a data bus.

Embedded in at least one of the data storage structures 106, andpreferably supplied on a separate back-up CD-ROM, is operating softwarewhich includes operating system and command/control code, thus providingmeans for causing and directing the various components of the compactdisc recorder 30 to perform specified functions, including re-boot,diagnostic and installation procedures. Preferably, the code on theCD-ROM is licensed to the specific end user and is keyed to the serialnumber of the specific compact disc recorder 30 with which it isshipped. In the event that the portion of the code provided embedded inthe data storage structure 106 becomes accidentally damaged, the usercan insert the back-up CD-ROM into the compact disc tray 54 of thecompact disc recordable drive 58 prior to providing power to the compactdisc recorder 30. When power is provided thereto, this will result inthe testing and any necessary correcting of the data storage structure106 and of the operating system and command structure. Thus, except inthe case of complete data storage structure 106 failure, or othercomponent failure (which would preferably be detected by the centralprocessing unit 94 using the code on the back-up CD-ROM, thus displayingan appropriate error message on the digital graphic display unit 46),preferably no other diagnostic or system-related maintenance isnecessary.

FIGS. 5 a, 5 b and 6 are detailed views of the internal components ofthe compact disc recorder 30. Specifically, FIG. 5 a illustrates digitalcomponents and FIG. 5 b illustrates analog components of the compactdisc recorder 30 in a simplified form. FIG. 5 a and FIG. 5 b essentiallyform a single block diagram, with FIG. 5 a being the left half, and FIG.5 b being the right half FIG. 6 illustrates analog components of thecompact disc recorder 30 in more detail than does FIG. 5 b.

As shown in FIG. 5 a, the basic system will use a PC compatible board orchip (system on a chip, such as the STPC presently available from STMicroelectronics) running the compact disc recorder 30 software as anembedded system, to provide overall control of the assorted circuitelements. Such a system will be referred to hereinafter as a PCSystem[PCS]. The PCS will communicate with the rest of the system by means ofa Main BUS (a bus meaning a grouping of conductors which is routed tothe same parts of a circuit, such as an ISA or PCI type), eachcontaining a Data, an Address and a Control sub-bus. The Main Bus, anISA BUS in this case, is primarily controlled by the PCS and willconnect the PCS to the DSP (such as a ADSP2111 DSP presently availablefrom Analog Devices), Main Memory Ram [RAM], Boot Block Eeram, Real TimeClock & Configuration [RTC], Voice Processing & Storage [VPS], LatchSystem [LATCH] , SCSI adapter [SCSI] and Memory Mapped Buffer System[BUFFER, including Memory Mapped Buffers 1 and 2 as illustrated in FIG.5 a]. There is a secondary bus referred to as the DSP BUS, which isprimarily controlled by the DSP and connects the DSP to the BUFFERthrough bank switches SW1, SW2, and SW3, to the ANALOG BOARD throughDigital OptoCouplers, and to the LATCH, and to the I/O PROCESSOR [IOP].A third BUS, called the Serial Interface Bus [SPI] only connects to theANALOG BOARD (shown in FIG. 5 b), through Digital OptoCouplers, andpasses data back and forth from the DSP and the CODEC (on the IsolatedAnalog Board). The SPI, together with the Analog Board Control Bus, alsocontrols the DIGITALLY CONTROLLED GAIN UNITS [DCGU 1 and DCGU 2] (seeFIG. 5 b) and provides for connection to an External Digital Interface(which may be utilized in a Professional Unit). A fourth BUS, called theIDE BUS connects the HARD DISK SYSTEM [HD] to the PCS. A fifth BUScalled the SCSI BUS connects the SCSI ADAPTER to the compact discrecordable drive 58.

With application of Mains Power to the Main Power Supply [PS], the PSwill first supply power and then a power good signal to the PCS. The PCSwill initialize under Bios control, perform power on tests, and thenload the compact disc recorder 30 imbedded Operating System [AADOS] fromthe EERAM. The application of Power will cause the data storagestructure 106 (HD in FIG. 5 a) and compact disc recordable drive 58 toinitialize. The AADOS will then initialize LATCH, IOP, RTC and VPS. TheAADOS will then initialize the DSP and then load the DSP operatingsystem [DSP CODE] into the DSP through the DSP Host Interface Port[HIP]. The DSP will then establish communications with the CODEC andDCGU's. The AADOS will initialize the LCD and display the start screenand begin normal operation in a ready mode, waiting for User input.

The EERAM which boots the AADOS can be reconfigured and rewritten undercontrol of the PCS, thereby allowing for the complete operating systemto be upgraded at will.

The BUFFER comprises BUFFER1 and BUFFER2, bus switches SW1, SW2 and SW3,and an ADDRESS DECODER. These units comprise a method to map one half ofthe total BUFFER, BUFFER1 for instance, into the memory address space ofthe PCS while, at the same time mapping the other buffer, BUFFER2, intothe memory address space of the DSP.

In the record mode, the CODEC (such as a Crystal CS4222) converts theAudio Input Signals into Digital Data and passes the data through theSPI to the DSP, which will store the data (after first perhapsprocessing it in some way) to BUFFER2, in this instance, until thebuffer is full. While BUFFER2 was filling, the PCS was storing the datawhich was previously placed in BUFFER1 to the HARD DISK SYSTEM and/orthe SCSI subsystem. After BUFFER2 has been filled the DSP switches thebus switches, SW1, SW2, and SW3, which now maps BUFFER2 into the memoryaddress space of the PCS and maps BUFFER1 into the memory address spaceof the DSP. The DSP then begins to fill BUFFER1 with data from the CODECand the cycle continues.

In playback mode the flow of data is reversed and originates as DigitalData from the HARD DISK SYSTEM or the SCSI storage system, follows thesame path in reverse, and is output from the CODEC as Audio (oradditionally as a digitally coded audio signal, typically a SPDIFsignal).

While in Record, Playback or Stop mode, the VPS can be activated and avoice message [SLATE] can be input through the microphone to the VPS,digitized, and stored as a voice bandwidth (typically 11.025 k) filewhich is linked to the current track.

The RTC will store the correct time, date and configuration while thecompact disc recorder 30 is off, and will have the capability to startand stop recording while unattended.

Operation of the compact disc recorder 30 will now be described. Uponpowering the device 30, the central processing unit 94 first initializesthe digital graphic display unit 46 (unless there is a fatal systemerror) and all the user-interactive buttons and knobs such as thepush-buttons 48, the soft-key keyboard set 52, and the gain and volumeadjustors, 60 and 72. After this initialization, the central processingunit 94 tests the RAM (see FIG. 5). Should a problem with the RAM bedetected, an appropriate error message would preferably be displayed onthe digital graphic display unit 46 on the front bezel 44 of the compactdisc recorder 30. Should no problem be detected, the central processingunit 94 proceeds to test the one or more data storage structures 106, todetermine whether the operating system code embedded therein is intact.If the operating system code is completely intact, the code is loadedinto the RAM and a specified start-up application is loaded and run.Should the operating system code not be completely intact, the centralprocessing unit 94 checks the compact disc recordable drive 58 todetermine whether the back-up CD-ROM, a Boot CD, is inserted in thecompact disc tray 54. If not, the central processing unit 94 preferablydisplays an appropriate error message on the digital graphic displayunit 46 and awaits for the insertion of a Boot CD into the compact disctray 54. When the Boot CD is detected, the central processing unit 94restores the data storage structure 106, and performs a cold boot.

Then, the central processing unit 94 initializes all the hardware of thecompact disc recorder 30 (see specifically FIGS. 4, 5 a and 5 b). Then,the central processing unit 94 determines whether the compact discrecorder 30 is to be used as an external SCSI device for a PC. To thisend, the central processing unit 94 may check to determine whether aninterface cable is connected to the SCSI port 84 on the back panel 36 ofthe compact disc recorder 30, or may check to determine the setting of afunction selector switch provided on the front bezel 44 or back panel36. Of course, as mentioned, other means may be provided to direct thefunctioning of the compact disc recorder 30 between being a SCSI deviceand being, for example, a compact disc recorder/player for a commonstereo system. If the central processing unit 94 determines that thecompact disc recorder 94 is to be used as an external SCSI device, thecompact disc recorder 30 enters a SCSI mode, and if the centralprocessing unit 94 determines that the compact disc recorder 94 is to beused otherwise, the central processing unit 94 preferably updates thedisplay on the digital graphic display unit 46 and enters an idle modewaiting for user interaction.

After pressing the Record button 50, when the compact disc recorder 30receives analog input signals received by any of the analog inputs ofthe compact disc recorder, the signal conditioning unit 90, undercontrol of the central processing unit 94, modifies the gain andfrequency response of the analog signals in order to optimize the analoginput signals for input to the analog-to-digital convertor 92. Theanalog-to-digital convertor 92 samples each of the analog input signalsreceived from the signal conditioning unit 90, and converts the analoginput signals to digital data, or a digital word. The analog-to-digitalconvertor 92, under control of the central processing unit 94, thenplaces the digital data, or digital word, on the data bus at the propertime. Thereafter, the central processing unit 94 can cause the digitaldata to be saved in the data storage structure 106 as one or moredigital files, such as digital audio wavetable (.wav) or raw (.raw)files, in the order in which they were received. Preferably, anoperating system embedded in the central processing unit 94 togetherwith the embedded command software enable the user to focus on selectionand ordering of audio material (to be described later herein), ratherthan on the technical aspects of typical pre-mastering and masteringsoftware. Preferably, the only settings the user must make are overallrecording level and balance, and even these functions can be programmedsuch that these are set automatically by the central processing unit 94.Other functions which may be automatically performed by the centralprocessing unit 94 include trimming the lead and/or tail from a take,fading in or out a take, slating a take, setting the equalizing levelsfor a recording session or even for particular sound tracks within asession, supporting multiple sessions stored in the data storage device106, and permitting the composing of a session from a library of takes.Many of these functions as well as others will be described more fullylater herein in connection with the digital display 46 and set 52 ofpush-buttons.

After digital data has been saved in the data storage structure 106 asone or more digital files, the digital files can be auditioned, orreviewed, before being saved onto a compact disc, such as a CD-R orCD-RW, which has been inserted in the compact disc tray 54 of thecompact disc recordable drive 58 and/or a secondary optical storagedevice 108 such as a secondary compact disc recordable drive or a DVDrecorder. To facilitate the auditioning of the digital files and thediscrete ordering thereof prior to recording onto a compact disc, eachsound track, or digital file, is maintained as a separate file.Alternatively, the one or more digital files can be saved onto a compactdisc without first auditioning same. To audition one or more digitalfiles, a user would interact with specific controls on the front bezel44 of the compact disc recorder 30, such as the set 48 or 52 ofpush-buttons or directly with the digital graphic display unit 46 if atouch screen is provided. Alternatively, a microphone 75 may be providedon the front bezel 44 and the device operated by voice.

As mentioned, preferably the pressing any of the push-buttons on thefront bezel 44 essentially amounts to interaction with the input keyunit 98 identified in FIG. 4. The input key unit 98 enables userinteraction with the program control of the compact disc recorder 30.Should the user program or direct the compact disc recorder 30 toaudition one or more digital files, the central processing unit 94 wouldcause the one or more digital files to be forwarded to thedigital-to-analog converter 100 over the data bus. The digital-to-analogconverter 100 converts this digital data received over the data bus toanalog signals, processes the signals to reduce or eliminate any effectsfrom a digital clock supplied by the central processing unit 94, anddistributes the analog signals as the two output lines 102 and 104, allunder control of the central processing unit 94. Thereafter, asmentioned, the two output lines 102 and 104 can emit the analog signalsfrom any or all of the outputs 76, 78 of the compact disc recorder 30which have already been described. All conversions of the analog signalsto and from digital data are performed in a hard-wired environment. Thisvirtually eliminates the possibility that one or more files will becorrupted during the conversions. As will be described, duringauditioning, a user can, for example, play the take or delete the takeas well as assemble the take into one or more sessions.

Either before or after auditioning the digital data and possibly afterrearranging the order of the individual digital files, the user maydirect or program the compact disc recorder 30 to record, or burn, animage of sound tracks (digital data) stored in the data storagestructure 106 onto a compact disc. As will be described more fully laterherein, to do so, the user would again interact with specific controlson the front bezel 44 of the compact disc recorder 30, such as thesecond set 52 of push-buttons. Should the user program or direct thecompact disc recorder 30 to write one or more digital files onto thecompact disc, the central processing unit 94 would cause the one or moredigital files in the data storage structure 106 to forward to the discstorage controller 96. As mentioned, the disc storage controller 96amounts to an interface between the data storage or retrieval requestsfrom the central processing unit 94 and the disc subsystem bus. As aresult, the central processing unit 94 can direct the recording of theone or more digital files onto the compact disc by the compact discrecordable drive 58 (and/or the secondary compact disc recordable or DVDdrive 108).

After writing to a compact disc, the recording can be played back by thecompact disc recordable drive 58 or any standard compact disc player.During play back using the compact disc recorder 30, the digital graphicdisplay unit 48 may display certain information relating to the playback. To play back the recording (or to play any other compact disc),the user merely employs the set 52 of push-buttons to direct the compactdisc recorder 30 to enter a play compact disc mode and then presses thepush-button 47 corresponding to “play” when the compact disc is insertedinto the compact disc tray 54. This will be described more fully laterherein. During play back, the compact disc recordable drive 58 convertsthe digital data on-board and outputs the analog signals for outputthrough any of the outputs of the compact disc recorder 30 mentionedabove, for example, through the line-out jack 78 and/or through theheadphone jack 76. Additionally, the compact disc recorder 30 may beconfigured such that the compact disc recordable drive 58 can outputsignals for direct recording onto the data storage structure 106,thereby obviating the need to connect a signal source such as a compactdisc player to any of the inputs of the compact disc recorder 30.

In the manner described above, the compact disc recorder 30 is primarilydesigned to provide that analog audio signals can be archived in a datastorage structure 106, and later recalled to be recorded, or burned,onto a compact disc. The compact disc recorder 30 also provides that auser can review archived sound tracks by accessing the data storagestructure 106 through software embedded within the central processingunit 94. This auditioning feature can be conducted on both atrack-by-track basis and on an entire session basis. The benefit ofbeing able to audition or review audio tracks before recording same ontoa compact disc is that the recording quality, gain level and desiredorder of the sound tracks can be determined to be correct beforehand.Therefore, an ideal recording onto a compact disc can be achieved on thefirst try.

The compact discs produced by the compact disc recorder 30 are fullycompatible with any present-day compact disc player. However, thecompact disc recorder 30 can also be used to play back the compact discafter it is recorded thereon by the compact disc recordable drive 58 (orif the drive 58 is provided as being some other type of optical storagedrive, preferably the optical storage medium recorded thereon can beplayed in that type of standard optical storage player). To this end,the compact disc recordable drive 56 (or a secondary compact discrecordable drive 108) itself can play back the compact disc. Inaddition, the compact disc recordable drive 56 can play standardcommercially-produced audio compact disc (typically recorded in CD-DAaudio format). As will be described more fully later herein, to have thecompact disc recorder 30 play a compact disc, the user would againinteract with specific controls on the front bezel 44 of the compactdisc recorder 30, such as the first set 48 of push-buttons, as describedpreviously herein. Should the user program or direct the compact discrecorder 30 to play a compact disc, analog signals would travel from thecompact disc recordable drive 58 to outputs which are provided on thecompact disc recorder 30, such as out the line-out jack 78 on the backpanel 36 or the headphone jack 76 on the front bezel 44.

As mentioned, the back panel 36 of the compact disc recorder 30 includesa SCSI port 84. The SCSI port 84 provides that the compact disc recorder30 can be used as a fully functional CD-R external drive for amulti-media personal computer (PC) system. To this end, a SCSI interfacecable can be attached to the SCSI port 84 on the compact disc recorder30 and to a SCSI card on the PC. This connection and the functionalityof the compact disc recorder 30 enables a user to create backup copiesof existing multi-media CD-ROMs, or programs or data stored on a harddrive. In addition, the user can compose and duplicate multi-mediapresentations using CD-R recordable blank media.

Preferably, the compact disc recorder 30 provides many enhanced featuresand functions, some of which have been mentioned hereinabove. Also,preferably the compact disc recorder 30 is easy to use. Some of theseenhanced features (some of which have been already discussedhereinabove) and preferred screen displays of the display device 46 willnow be described.

Some of the display device 46 outputs to be described contain songnames, etc. which are presently commercially available and presumablyprotected by appropriate copyright laws. Of course, it is assumed thatthe user would have pre-acquired the legal right to do the acts to bedescribed, or that the acts to be described are otherwise legal (e.g.,fair use).

When the compact disc recorder 30 is initially turned on, the digitaldisplay 46 may, after a short time (after the central processing unit 94initializes the internal components of the device 30, as alreadydescribed), appear as shown in FIG. 1 displaying a start-up screen whichmay include a trademark.

Then, after another short time period, the digital display 46 may appearas illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7. FIGS. 7-23 are cut-aways of the frontbezel 44, including the set 52 of push-buttons 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63adjacent the display device 46. When describing each of these displays,like reference numerals will be used to identify like items and, attimes, detailed discussion thereof will be omitted.

Attention is specifically directed to FIG. 7. As shown, the displaydevice 46 may initially display session name indicia 200, song nameindicia 202, time indicia 208 which indicates the length of the song interms of time, peak level indicator indicia 210, track number indicia214 which indicates the position of that particular song within thesession, status indicia 206 which indicates what the compact discrecorder 30 is doing, session time remaining indicia 204, displayindicia 218 which indicates what it is that a center display 216 isindicating, and selection menu 212 which indicates functions a user canaccess by pressing a corresponding push-button 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63from the set 52 of push-buttons adjacent the display device 46 on thefront bezel 44.

Essentially, the screen display shown in FIG. 7 is indicating that thesession is called “Metallica”, the song track entitled “Fade to Black”is the first song in the session, the total track time is beingdisplayed and the song is 6:56 long, there is about 20% remaining in thesession (the entire session will fit on a compact disc and some moresound tracks can still be added), the compact disc recorder 30 is in astop mode, the inputs to the compact disc recorder 30 are low (−45 rightchannel and −45 left channel), and the user may use the correspondingpush-button 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63 to select one of the followingfunctions: utility, time, play a compact disc, make a compact disc,session and peak.

Specifically, pressing push-button 55 (time function) will change thecenter display to indicate, for example, the time elapsed in the songduring play back from the data storage structure, the amount of timeused in the session, the amount of time remaining in the session, etc.depending on how many times the push-button 55 is pressed. As the centerdisplay changes, the display indicia 218 changes to indicate what it isthat the center display 216 is indicating.

Pressing push-button 57 causes the compact disc recorder 30 to enter aplay CD mode wherein a compact disc placed in the compact disc tray 54can be played back using the compact disc recordable drive 58. Duringplay CD mode, the set 48 of push-buttons on the front bezel 44 may beoperated much like the controls of a standard compact disc player. Whenthe compact disc recorder 30 enters this mode, the display device 46 mayappear as shown in FIG. 23 indicating that track one of the compact discreceived is 00:00 long (essentially indicating that no compact disc hasbeen inserted in the compact disc tray 54). At this time, the selectionmenu 272 includes two options: time and exit. Pressing the push-button55 (corresponding to the time option) causes the center display 216 toindicate, for example, the time elapsed in the song, the amount of timeremaining in the song, the amount of time elapsed on the disc and theamount of time remaining on the disc, etc. depending on how many timesthe push-button 55 is pressed. As the center display changes, thedisplay indicia 218 changes to indicate what it is that the centerdisplay 216 is indicating. Pressing push-button 63 (corresponding to theexit option) causes the compact disc recorder 30 to exit the play backmode and revert back to the display illustrated in FIG. 7.

When the display device 46 appears as illustrated in FIG. 7, pressingpush-button 59 causes the compact disc recorder 30 to enter a writecompact disc mode at which time the display device 46 may prompt (suchas by pressing push-button 47) the user to confirm that a compact discis to be made. After the user confirms as such, the compact discrecorder 30, and specifically the compact disc recordable drive 58component thereof, begins writing the session to a compact disc insertedin the tray 54. As will be described, a session will typically be agroup of sound tracks which have been previously assigned to thatparticular session.

To view the contents of a particular session, one presses thepush-button 61 when the display device 46 appears as illustrated in FIG.7, at which time the display changes to that which is shown in FIG. 8.The display includes session title indicia 220, data storage structurefree space indicia 222, session remaining time indicia 224, a sessionsong list 228 which is a list of all the sound tracks assigned to thatparticular session, a cursor 226 which can be maneuvered among thesession song list 228, and a selection menu 230 which indicates thefunctions a user can access by pressing a corresponding push-button 53,55, 57, 59, 61, 63 from the set 52 of push-buttons adjacent the displaydevice 46 on the front panel: view, up, down, play, exit, more.

Essentially, the screen display depicted in FIG. 8 is indicating thatthe session is called “Metallica”, the session includes at least soundtracks which have been entitled (by the user) “Fade to Black”, “KingNothing”, “Sad But True” and “Fuel”.

Pressing push-button 55 causes the cursor 226 to move up the sessionsong list 228, and pressing push-button 57 causes the cursor 226 to movedown the session song list 228 thereby possibly causing the session songlist 228 to scroll down and display sound tracks beyond the first four.Pressing and holding down push-button 59 causes the compact discrecorder 30 to begin playing the track highlighted by the cursor 226until the push-button 59 is released (used primarily only to identifywhich sound track is highlighted—to truly listen to tracks within asession, a user would press push-button 61 and revert back to the screendisplay shown on FIG. 7, then the user would interact with the other set48 of push-buttons much like operating a standard compact disc player).Pressing push-button 61 causes the screen display to revert back to thatwhich is shown in FIG. 7. Pressing push-button 63 when the screendisplay is as shown in FIG. 8 causes the screen display to appear asshown in FIG. 19. As shown, the only difference between the two displays(FIG. 8 and FIG. 19) is that the selection menu (266 in FIG. 19) haschanged to indicate that the following functions are accessible: back,move up, move down, delete. Pressing push-button 53 causes the screendisplay to revert back to the display shown in FIG. 8. In contrast,pressing push-button 55 causes the highlighted sound track in thesession song list 228 to move up within the list (as shown “KingNothing” would be moved ahead of “Fade to Black” to occupy the firstspot in the list), and pressing push-button 57 causes the highlightedsound track in the session song list 228 to move down within the list(as shown “King Nothing” would be moved behind “Sad But True” to occupythe third spot in the list). Pressing push-button 59 causes thehighlighted sound track in the session song list 228 to be deleted fromthat particular session. However, this does not cause the sound track tobe deleted from the data storage device on which the sound track hasbeen stored, and the sound track will still remain contained in themaster song list which is accessed by pressing push-button 53 while thedisplay is as shown in FIG. 8, after which the display device 46 appearsas shown in FIG. 9.

The display shown in FIG. 9 includes data storage structure indicia 232which indicates in which data storage structure (e.g. part 106) the listof sound tracks is stored, a master sound track list 234 which lists allthe sound tracks stored in the data storage structure indicated by thedata storage structure indicia 232, and selection menu 236 whichindicates that a user can access the following functions by pressing acorresponding push-button 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63 from the set 52 ofpush-buttons on the front bezel 44: view, up, down, add, exit, more.

Essentially, the screen display shown in FIG. 9 is indicating that thedata storage structure indicated by the data storage structure indicia232 includes at least sound tracks which have been entitled (by theuser) “Breadfan”, “Fade to Black”, “Fuel” and “Harvester” and that eachof the sound tracks are used within at least one session (as indicatedby the x's).

Pressing push-button 55 causes the cursor 226 to move up the mastersound track list 234, and pressing push-button 57 causes the cursor 226to move down the master sound track list 234 thereby possibly causingthe master sound track list 234 to scroll down and display sound tracksbeyond the first four. Pressing push-button 59 causes the sound trackhighlighted by the cursor 226 to be added to the session which has beenselected (session selection will be described in connection with FIG.10). Pressing push-button 61 causes the display to revert back to thatwhich is shown in FIG. 7. Pressing push-button 63 causes the screendisplay to appear as shown in FIG. 16. As shown, the only differencebetween the two displays (FIG. 9 and FIG. 16) is that the selection menu(258 in FIG. 16) has changed to indicate the following functions areaccessible: back, name, delete, play, delete all, more. Pressingpush-button 53 causes the screen display to revert back to the displayshown in FIG. 9. Pressing push-button 55 allows the user to name (orre-name) the highlighted sound track. Pressing push-button 57 causes thesound track highlighted by the cursor 226 to be deleted from the datastorage structure indicated by the data storage structure indicia 232.Pressing and holding down push-button 59 causes the compact discrecorder 30 to begin playing the track highlighted by the cursor 226until the push-button 59 is released (used primarily only to identifywhich sound track is highlighted—to truly listen to tracks within asession, a user would press push-button 61 when the screen appears asshown in FIG. 9 to cause the screen to appear as shown in FIG. 7, thenthe user would interact with the other set 48 of push-buttons much likeoperating a standard compact disc player). Pressing push-button 61 whenthe screen appears as shown in FIG. 16 causes any sound tracks which arenot assigned to a session (indicated as not having an “x” in the usedcolumn) to be erased or otherwise made unavailable. Preferably, pressingpush-button 57 or 61 causes the compact disc recorder to prompt the userfor a confirmation (such as by having the user press push-button 47)that a deletion is actually desired. Additionally, the user may beprompted for a password before the one or more sound tracks are deleted.Upon deleting a sound track, the sound track would no longer appear inthe master list 234. Pressing push-button 63 causes the screen displayto appear as shown in FIG. 18. As shown, the only difference between thetwo displays (FIG. 16 and FIG. 18) is that the selection menu (264 inFIG. 18) has changed to indicate that the following selections arepossible: back, copy, move. Pressing push-button 55 allows the user tocopy the highlighted sound track to another data storage structure, andpressing push-button 57 allows a user to move the highlighted soundtrack to another data storage structure. Pressing push-button 53 causesthe screen display to revert back to that which is shown in FIG. 16.

As mentioned, pressing push-button 55 when the display is as shown inFIG. 16 allows a user to name (or re-name) the sound track which ishighlighted by the cursor 226. After the push-button 55 is pressed, thedisplay device 46 may appear as shown in FIG. 17 where a naming box 260appears substantially at the center of the display. Pressing push-button53 causes the cursor in the song title to move to the left, pressingpush-button 55 causes the cursor in the song title to move to the right,pressing push-button 57 causes the letter highlighted by the cursor tomove down (i.e. from “b” to “a”) and pressing push-button 59 causes theletter highlighted by the cursor to move up (i.e. from “b” to “c”).Then, pressing push-button 61 causes the display to revert back to FIG.16 after saving the sound track title just entered using push-buttons53, 55, 57 and 59, and pressing push-button 63 causes the display torevert back to FIG. 16 without saving the sound track title just enteredusing push-buttons 53, 55, 57 and 59 (i.e. the former title isretained). Of course, instead of providing this means to enter a songtitle, a four-way or other type of menu may be provided for selectingletters and other characters. Alternatively, as mentioned, a microphone75 (or a microphone jack for receiving a microphone) may be provided onthe compact disc recorder 30 thereby allowing the user to input songnames by voice. This is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 a. In fact, thecompact disc recorder 30 can be configured such that a user can alsomaneuver through the several menus using one's voice.

After the display has reverted back to that which is shown in FIG. 16,push-button 53 can be pressed to have the display revert back to thatwhich is shown in FIG. 9. If push-button 53 is then pressed (the “view”function), the display appears as shown in FIG. 10 where the displaycontains a session list 240. Selection menu 242 indicates that pressingpush-button 55 causes the cursor 226 to move up within the list ofsessions, and pressing push-button 57 causes the cursor 226 to move downwithin the list of sessions. Pressing push-button 59 results in thesession highlighted by the cursor 226 being selected. As a result, anysound tracks recorded into the compact disc recorder 30 (recording willbe described more fully later herein) will be assigned to the end ofthat particular session. Pressing push-button 61 causes the display torevert back to that which is shown in FIG. 7 at which time recording asound track into that session can be performed. Pressing push-button 63when the display is as shown in FIG. 10 causes the display to appear asshown in FIG. 20 at which time the selection menu 266 indicates thatpressing push-button 57 provides that the session highlighted by thecursor 226 becomes deleted (the sound tracks contained therein wouldstill remain in the master sound track list 234 depicted in FIGS. 9 and16-18), pressing push-button 59 allows the user to name (or re-name) thesession highlighted by the cursor 226 in much the same manner as a songis named (or re-named) (see FIG. 17 and the description hereinaboveassociated therewith), pressing push-button 55 provides that a newsession is added to the session list (the new session may first be givena generic name by the compact disc recorder 30 such as “session33”, butthe session can be re-named as mentioned above) and pressing push-button53 when the display is as shown in FIG. 20 provides that the displayreverts back to that which is shown in FIG. 10.

Pressing push-button 53 at such time provides that the display appearsas shown in FIG. 11, where a data storage structure list 246 isdisplayed and a selection menu 248 indicates that pressing push-button55 causes the cursor to move up within the list 246, pressingpush-button 57 causes the cursor to move down within the list 246,pressing push-button 59 causes the highlighted data storage structure tobe selected, pressing push-button 61 causes the display to revert backto that which is shown in FIG. 7, and pressing push-button 53 causes thedisplay to again display a session song list 228 as shown in FIG. 8.

When the display is as shown in FIG. 7, a sound track may be recordedinto the selected data storage structure (i.e. 106), as described abovein connection with FIG. 11. To begin recording, a user merely presseskey 50 (the “record” key) on the front bezel 44. This causes the displayto appear as shown in FIG. 21. At such a time, the compact disc recorder30 is not initially recording any sounds received through the analogline in jack 70 (or any of the other inputs provided on the device 30),but is “listening” to the sounds. Thus, a user may start sending soundsinto the analog line in jack 70 or any other analog lines in provided(such as by pressing play on the standard compact disc player orcassette tape player connected thereto) and may preview and set therecording level. The recording level will appear in the right-hand partof the display as two vertical bars—one corresponding to the leftchannel, and the other corresponding to the right channel. Also, twonumbers (both −64 as shown in FIG. 21) over the vertical bars willindicate the amount of headroom the maximum signal has before thedigital signal to be created by the recording is clipped. A user maywant to get these two numbers to a specific value (often depending onthe type of music recorded) as the compact disc recorder 30 previews thehighs in the sound track. To adjust the recording volume, a usermanipulates the adjusters 60 (left 62 and right 64).

When a user then presses the push-button 47 on the front bezel 44, thecompact disc recorder 30 begins recording the sound track into thesession previously selected, and onto the data storage structurepreviously selected. As shown in FIG. 22, during the recording, thedisplay indicates the time elapsed in the recording (1:03), the positionof the sound track within the session (track 14) and the name of thesession into which the sound track is being recorded (a session called“Metallica”). Additionally, the display indicates the status of thecompact disc recorder 30 (recording) using the status indicator 206 andindicates the time left within the session, which will ultimately dependon how much music can be stored on a compact disc. Furthermore, thedisplay indicates the recording volume in the form of thealready-mentioned two vertical bars and associated numbers, andindicates that the sound track has been assigned the generic name“New034” (of course, the sound track name can be changed as describedabove). During recording, the selection menu 270 indicates that a usermay press push-button 55 to change the center display 216 to indicate,for example, total session time elapsed, total session time remaining,track time remaining, etc. and what the center display 216 is indicatingwill be identified by display indicia 218. Pressing push-button 63causes the peak level bars and associated numbers to reset. Pressingpush-button 57 leaves a “mark” in the sound track at that particularlocation in the song, and pressing push-button 59 causes the mark to becleared. When a user decides that recording is finished, the userpresses push-button 50 on the front bezel 44 to immediately beginrecording the next track, or presses push-button 41 to stop recording.Once recording is stopped, the display reverts back to that which isdescribed in FIG. 7 at which time a user may edit any of the soundtracks in that particular session. Leaving one or more marks within thesound tracks allows one to edit the sound tracks once they have beenrecorded into the selected data storage structure.

Editing sound tracks contained within a session will now be described.To edit a particular sound track in a session, one selects the soundtrack by using the push-buttons 45 and 49 when the display device 46appears as shown in FIG. 7. Once the desired sound track is displayed,push-button 53 is pressed, and the display appears as shown in FIG. 12at which time pressing push-button 63 causes the display to revert backto that which is displayed in FIG. 7. In contrast, pressing push-button53 when the display appears as shown in FIG. 12 causes the display toappear as shown in FIG. 13 at which time selection menu 252 indicatesthat pressing push-button 55 causes the compact disc recorder 30 toconnect a plurality of sound tracks together into a single sound track,pressing push-button 57 causes the compact disc recorder 30 tore-configure the sound track so that it fades in to the first markplaced in the sound track, pressing push-button 59 causes the compactdisc recorder 30 to re-configure the sound track so that it fades outfrom the last mark placed in the sound track, pressing push-button 61causes the display to revert back to that which is displayed in FIG. 12,and pressing push-button 63 causes the display to provide a selectionmenu 254 as shown in FIG. 14 at which time it is indicated that pressingpush-button 55 causes the compact disc recorder 30 to trim the beginningof a sound track up to the first mark placed in the sound track,pressing push-button 57 causes the compact disc recorder 30 to trim theend of a sound track from the last mark placed in the sound track,pressing push-button 59 causes the compact disc recorder 30 tore-configure the sound track so that it fades out from the last markplaced in a sound track and fades in to the first mark placed in thenext sound track in the session, and pressing push-button 61 causes thedisplay to adjust the amplitude of the soundtrack to a selected valuewhereafter preferably the user is prompted to input a valuecorresponding to the amplitude desired.

Pressing push-button 63 causes the display to provide a selection menu256 as shown in FIG. 15 indicating that pressing push-button 55 willcause any marks placed within the sound track to be cleared and pressingpush-button 57 will cause two sound tracks to be joined. Pressingpush-button 53 causes the display to revert back to that which is shownin FIG. 14, and pressing push-button 53 again causes the display torevert back to that which is shown in FIG. 13 at which time pressingpush-button 61 causes the display to revert back to the display shown inFIG. 7.

From FIG. 7, pressing push-button 53 causes the display to revert backto the display shown in FIG. 12. Thereafter, pressing push-button 55causes the compact disc recorder 30 to search for and utilize an upgradecompact disc in the compact disc tray 54. Hence, as mentioned, upgradesin the software can be performed using an upgrade compact disc. Pressingpush-button 57 causes the display 46 to prompt the user as to how thesound tracks should be sorted in the master song list 234 such as byname, size or time and date recorded. Pressing push-button 59 allows theuser to set the date and time in the device 30. Pressing push-button 61causes the compact disc recorder 30 to rebuild certain sessioninformation files. As mentioned, pressing push-button 63 causes thedisplay to revert back to that which is shown in FIG. 7.

Of course, the screen displays as illustrated on FIGS. 7-23 are merelyillustrative, and may take many forms without departing from the scopeof the present invention. Additionally, there may, in fact, be no inputkeys provided on the device 30 and all commands can be given by voicevia the microphone 75, if provided.

The compact disc recorder 30 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention provides several advantages which include, but are notlimited to, being as easy to use in many respects as a modern-day audiotape recorder/player or compact disc player. Additionally, the compactdisc recorder 30 in accordance with the present invention also providesthat one can listen to a sound track before the sound track is to berecorded. In other words, one can truly audition a recording. Moreover,the compact disc recorder 30 can be used like a modern day juke boxwhere songs are played directly from memory without needing to insertthe compact disc containing the music. Additionally, the compact discrecorder 30 preferably provides enhanced features for editing the soundtracks recorded into the memory of the compact disc recorder 30. Usingthe compact disc recorder 30, one can easily customize the order inwhich sound tracks will appear on the compact disc and one can easilywrite several compact discs having different orders of songs or havingslightly different compilations without having to re-enter the soundsinto the device 30. Finally, unlike present-day compact disc players,the compact disc recorder 30 preferably doubles as a SCSI device for usewith a PC.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown anddescribed, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devisevarious modifications and equivalents without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. An apparatus configured to store sound tracks and play the storedsound tracks for personal enjoyment, said apparatus comprising: ahousing containing non-volatile memory, the housing further comprisingat least one touch-operable control and a touch screen display capableof being operated to cause the touch screen display to display at leastone menu relating to a library of sound tracks, wherein all of the soundtracks in the library and their names are stored in the non-volatilememory of the apparatus, wherein the at least one menu includes at leastone of a list of names of sound tracks and a list of groups of soundtracks; an input in the housing for receiving audio data; audio outputstructure located at least partially within the housing for outputtingaudio signals; wherein the at least one touch-operable control and touchscreen display is configured such that at least one of thetouch-operable control and the touch screen display is touchable toallow selection from the at least one menu displayed on the touch screendisplay; wherein the apparatus is configured to receive audio datathrough the input of the apparatus, whereby sound tracks become storedin the non-volatile memory as digital data; wherein the apparatus isconfigured for maintaining and selectively accessing and playing soundtracks stored in the non-volatile memory; wherein the apparatus isconfigured such that at least one of the at least one touch-operablecontrol and the touch screen display is touchable to cause the apparatusto display on the touch screen display at least one of a list of namesof sound tracks and a list of groups of sound tracks; and wherein theapparatus is configured such that at least one of the at least onetouch-operable control and the touch screen display is touchable tocause the apparatus to play at least one of a specific sound track and agroup of sound tracks through the audio output structure.
 2. Anapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio output structurecomprises a headphone jack.
 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein the audio output structure is configured to transmit signals toan external device which includes an amplifier.
 4. An apparatus asrecited in claim 1, further comprising an amplifier operativelyconnected to the audio output structure and configured to amplify audiooutput signals produced during playing, which are transmitted to theaudio output structure.
 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, whereinthe audio output structure comprises a headphone jack.
 6. An apparatusas recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least onetouch-operable control and the touch screen display is touchable tocontrol the volume at which audio is played.
 7. An apparatus as recitedin claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one touch-operablecontrol and the touch screen display is touchable to pause a sound trackwhich is being played.
 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein atleast one of the at least one touch-operable control and the touchscreen display is touchable to stop a sound track as it is being playedand play the next sound track in a group of sound tracks.
 9. Anapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the at leastone touch-operable control and the touch screen display is touchable toselectively power the apparatus at least one of on and off.
 10. Anapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the at leastone touch-operable control and the touch screen display is touchable toselect and play at least one of an individual sound track and a group ofsound tracks through the audio output structure.
 11. An apparatus asrecited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least onetouch-operable control and the touch screen display is touchable toselect and play at least one of an individual sound track and a group ofsound tracks through the headphone jack.
 12. An apparatus as recited inclaim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to display on the touchscreen display at least one of time elapsed (ascending) and timeremaining (descending) for the sound track being played.
 13. Anapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configuredsuch that the non-volatile memory stores a library of sound tracks thatis received by the input and which has been pre-selected by a user. 14.An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memorycomprises at least one of a Hard Disk Drive, solid state memory andrandom address memory.
 15. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, whereinthe apparatus is configured such that at least one of the at least onetouch-operable control and the touch screen display is touchable tocontrol the volume at which sound tracks are played through theheadphone jack.